Robyn Wiebe

A post to the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) social media page on July 25th, shared information about reductions in services and closed units. It stated:

As we approach the weekend, an SOS has come in from Boundary Trails Health Centre, the largest regional centre outside of Winnipeg and Brandon: 

"This past weekend was a very scary reality check. This true nursing crisis is impacting everyone and the public seems to have no idea. 

Three months after the Ukraine to Morden 2022 Committee began work to settle displaced Ukrainians coming to Canada through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel Program, more host families are needed. 

Committee Volunteer Cyndi Kutzner said summer vacations have been one reason the need has come up. 

An 11-year-old girl from Altona had a big smile after the community showed big support for her friendship bracelet and bake sale she held on July 9th.  

Izzy Maguet shared where the idea came from to raise money for South Central Cancer Resource (SCCR). 

Morden City Council has awarded the tenders for the redesign of the Alvey Street and Parkhill Drive bridges, which remain closed at this time. The two structures were severely damaged during the spring's sudden overland flooding. 

Mayor Brandon Burley explained.  

Morden Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a fire call over the weekend.

"We had a fire call on Saturday evening, where we had a kitchen fire in a residential home on 13th Street," explained Fire Chief Andy Thiessen. "The owner of the home was at home, he just happened to be outside at the time. When he came in, his house was full of smoke so he was able to call it in quickly, and we were able to respond quickly so the damage was kept to the kitchen area. So, that part went good."

Thiessen had a reminder for the public.

Artist And Writer, Celia Rabinovitch has created an exhibition for the Manitoba Museum featuring photographs by Nick Yudell, a cousin who grew up with the Rabinovitch family in Morden and died as a RAF Pilot in World War II.   

Celia describes how when Yudell was twelve, a family member gave him a camera and over the next decade he took 300 photos. He wrote the time, date, place and the names of the people in each picture, and put the negatives in brown envelopes in a gray box he made for them. 

Last week, the Economic Development, Investment and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen announced a $516, 000 investment for Regional Connections to address the workforce shortage in the Pembina Valley. 

In a Press Release, Minister Cullen stated, "Our government’s investment will enable Regional Connections to provide project-based employment services so unemployed and underemployed Manitobans living in the Pembina Valley can receive short-term skills development and on-the-job training to find and maintain purposeful employment."  

Today, the keys of the Winker/Morden Habitat for Humanity (WMHFH) home in Morden are officially handed over to the recipients Pete and Emily.    

Pete shared what it feels like to start making payments towards this home. 

"For us, this means a place that we can actually call home and put roots down, and we can just work on it as a family together, making things better, expanding, and finishing up the basement. And just building memories with our family in this one place, and not just have memories of moving."  

It didn't take long for Morden's outdoor recreation options to expand this summer, with the recent announcement of a full-size outdoor basketball court including two half courts to be installed by the skate park on the corner of Wardrop and 1st St.

Mayor Brandon Burley explained how this came about. 

It was stiff competition Saturday morning at the Morden Park, as the Challenger Baseball Team took on the Morden U-13 AA Boys in the final game of the Challenger season. 

The Challenger Baseball Team is made up of 10 athletes from around the Pembina Valley with physical and intellectual disabilities, who are partnered with buddies each Saturday. Buddies may be family members or other athletes who play a game with them. 

Challenger Head Coach Courtney Yeo-Thiessen was pleased with the morning.